Too little money, no way up

The profile of Chen Kai, deputy director of the Shanghai office of foreign affairs, was removed from the department's official website on Monday, confirming previously circulated news about his resignation.

Chen's resignation means three Shanghai bureau-level officials have resigned over the past six months, and it once again puts the reasons for officials leaving their jobs in the spotlight.

Some have generalized the causes behind the resignation of an increasing number of officials, considered an elite group holding a job for life, as low incomes, poor promotion prospects, and the growing difficulties in gaining "grey income" under the ongoing anti-corruption campaign. Despite the different excuses given by officials for resigning, the increasing number of resignations among civil servants, especially senior ones, have exposed institutional problems in the system, and the failure to resolve them will possibly force more officials to follow suit.